Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x

Prambanan Temple Compounds

Indonesia
Factors affecting the property in 2011*
  • Earthquake
  • Volcanic eruption
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Earthquake

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2011

Total amount provided to the property: USD 250,000 Saudi Arabia Funds-in-Trust for emergency rehabilitation.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2011
Requests approved: 3 (from 1998-2006)
Total amount approved : 80,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2011**

February 2006: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission. 

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2011

Since the 2006 earthquake in Yogyakarta, the Indonesian government has carried out rehabilitation work for the structural stability of the Prambanan Temples. A team from Tsukuba University, Japan has also conducted research surveys for the restoration of Prambanan Temples. In addition, the World Heritage Centre sent an expert in historic building structures to carry out research and provide technical recommendations for the rehabilitation work on the damaged Temples. The Indonesian government, together with the UNESCO Office in Jakarta, jointly organized international expert meetings for the Safeguarding of Prambanan in 2007 and 2009.

The earthquake which hit Yogyakarta and Central Java caused severe damage to the Temple Compounds, and the Siva Temple suffered the most. Hence, at its 33rd committee session in 2009, the World Heritage Committee urged the Government of Indonesia to restore the Siva Temple for its long-term preservation (Decision 33COM 7B.73).

On 1 February 2011, a report on the state of conservation of the property was submitted by the State Party. This report outlines the progress made through rehabilitation activities according to the March 2007 Action Plan defined by the International Meeting of Experts and includes details of the capacity building, awareness raising and visitor management activities undertaken.

a) Research and restoration work

The State Party report also illustrated the research and monitoring activities that have been carried out at both Sewu and Prambanan Temples. The activities include mapping the contours in order to study the drainage system, analyzing the stability of the structure at Prambanan and the Planning evaluation of rehabilitation work that has not been implemented. 

Restoration work has already been carried out and is continuing at both locations. However, despite the importance of the preservation of the site and the need for sustainable development mechanisms, several planned projects have been hampered due to a shortage of financial and human resources, which are vital for dealing with their long-term conservation at the local/national level. Since 2010 experts have been investigating the most appropriate way to save the Temple Compounds. There are some disagreements about how best to rehabilitate the Siva temple and strengthen its structure. The government has asked international and national experts for a proper methodology to ensure the long-term preservation of the Siva Temple.

b) Capacity building and awareness – raising

The State Party report also provided details of nine capacity building activities including, a one-month “Regional Training Course on Conservation and Restoration” as well as a workshop on “Technical Guidance on Conservation of Traditional Building”, both conducted at the site. Some of the actions were undertaken with the help of the international community and Tsukuba University in particular.

The State Party further indicated that a series of activities have been undertaken with a view to raising awareness among local, national and international communities. Most activities target students at elementary and high school and university level.

It is also reported that due to the current rehabilitation projects some Temples are currently closed to visitors. Some of the temples remain open for visitors and it has to be ensured that visitor activities do not hinder the ongoing rehabilitation work.

c) Planning

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism also organised meetings in December 2010 and March 2011. The March 2011 meeting concluded that the Siva Temple is in an alarming condition and agreed on an eight-year restoration programme (starting 2011) for the Siva Temple. However, it was decided that no decision could yet be made on the nature of the restoration and that more extensive research should be carried out. To this end, an international meeting was organized by the Government of Indonesia and the UNESCO Office in Jakarta from 30 March to 1 April 2011 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia with the purpose of identifying ways of structurally consolidating the Prambanan Temple Compounds for their long-term preservation. The participants at the workshop adopted a series of recommendations on restoration and structural strengthening, material analysis, concept of authenticity and education and information issues, but maintained that no remedial activities should commence until the exact condition of the Siwa temple is fully understood.

d) Volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi

On 26 October 2010, the volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi seriously threatened the thousands of people living on the volcano's fertile slopes. This major eruption has blanketed the surrounding areas in volcanic ash of the Borobudur Temple Compounds World Heritage property. . The Prambanan temples were slightly covered by the volcanic ash, which was rapidly cleaned by the staff of the site management. Although, the lava/debris flow in the river nearby following the volcanic eruption was reported by the local media as a possible threat to the property, the UNESCO Jakarta mission found that the compound is well protected by high walls at the river bank.

Requested by the Indonesian authorities, the Director-General of UNESCO, through the World Heritage Centre and UNESCO Office in Jakarta, launched an emergency safeguarding initiative for Borobudur and Prambanan. The overall goals include rehabilitation of the temple compounds and enhancing and promoting the livelihoods of affected local communities, via their involvement in the rehabilitation of the cultural tourism and creative industry sector in the region.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2011

The Word Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the progress made by the State Party in implementing the activities outlined in the 2007 Action Plan as requested by the World Heritage Committee. They also note the numerous expert meetings, capacity-building and awareness-raising activities organized during a relatively short period. They further encourage the State Party of Indonesia to address the conservation issues caused by the October 2010 volcanic eruption, in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2011
35 COM 7B.69
Prambanan Temple Compounds (Indonesia) (C 642)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/7B.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 33 COM 7B.73, adopted at its 33rd session (Sevilla, 2009),

3. Notes with satisfaction the continuing efforts made by the State Party towards the rehabilitation of the property in accordance with the Action Plan prepared in 2007 and the steady progress being made;

4. Thanks the Director-General of UNESCO for having launched immediately after the volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi of Central Java in Indonesia, the emergency safeguarding operation, with the primary objective of rehabilitating the surrounding areas of the property and of enhancing and promoting the livelihoods of affected local communities, via their involvement in the rehabilitation of the cultural tourism and creative industry sector in the region;

5. Encourages the State Party to conduct further research on the structure of the Siva Temple, such as onsite monitoring, seismographic studies, periodic monitoring of data analysis, before any major restoration work is agreed or undertaken;

6. Strongly recommends that minimum intervention be considered to retain the authenticity of the property;

7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, a report on the state of conservation of the property with information on the progress made in the implementation of the above-mentioned Action Plan and the recommendations adopted by the April 2011 Working Group Meeting for the Safeguarding of Prambanan Temple Compounds, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.

Draft Decision: 35 COM 7B.69

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/7B.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 33 COM 7B.73,adopted at its 33rd session (Sevilla, 2009),

3. Notes with satisfaction the continuing efforts made by the State Party towards the rehabilitation of the property in accordance with the Action Plan prepared in 2007 and the steady progress being made;

4. Thanks the Director-General of UNESCO for having launched immediately after the volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi of Central Java in Indonesia, the emergency safeguarding operation, with primary objective of rehabilitating the surrounding areas of the property and of enhancing and promoting the livelihoods of affected local communities, via their involvement in the rehabilitation of the cultural tourism and creative industry sector in the region;

5. Encourages the State Party to conduct further research on the structure of the Siva Temple, such as onsite monitoring, seismographic studies, periodic monitoring of data analysis, before any major restoration work is agreed or undertaken;

6. Strongly recommends that minimum intervention be considered to retain the authenticity of the property;

7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, a report on the state of conservation of the property with information on the progress made in the implementation of the above-mentioned Action Plan and the recommendations adopted by the April 2011 Working Group Meeting for the Safeguarding of Prambanan Temple Compounds, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013. 

Report year: 2011
Indonesia
Date of Inscription: 1991
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(iv)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 35COM (2011)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


top